JP2005305178A - Putter having vibration transmission preventive body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf club head for imparting a specific feeling over the length of a ball hitting surface by damping vibration. <P>SOLUTION: The golf club head having a vibration damping insert is disclosed. The club head has a face member, a damping member, and a body member. The damping member is sandwiched between the face member and the body member, and extends along most of the face member. A damping layer damps the vibration, and imparts the specific feeling over the length of the ball hitting surface. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a golf club, and more particularly to a golf putter having a vibration damping member.

  Golf clubs have long been developed to improve the “touch, feel” of clubs, including those used on and around the green. One approach to improving club touch and feel is to improve the golf club grip, shaft, or ball striking surface. For example, changes to the club head may include placing an insert on the ball striking surface that affects the impact of the club in relation to the golf ball and improves the feedback to the golfer after impact.

  Some known clubs have damping inserts. However, these known damping bodies do not provide a uniform feel across the golf club face. The feeling of the club and the performance of the golf ball at the time of hitting change depending on which part of the hitting surface is in contact with the golf ball.

  Thus, there is a need for a golf club with a vibration damping insert that provides a uniform feel (feel or feel) over the length of the ball striking face.

  The present invention relates to a golf club head provided with a vibration damping member. The club head has a face member, a damping member, and a main body member. The face member includes a ball striking surface and a rear surface facing the ball striking surface. The damping member is connected to the rear surface of the face member. The main body member is coupled to the damping member so as to face the face member. The body member includes a hosel for attaching the shaft to the club head. The face member is preferably made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and the body member is preferably made of steel.

  The damping member extends along most of the face member. This arrangement helps to dampen vibrations that occur during normal use of the club, regardless of which part of the club face hits the ball, and also provides a softer feel to the club. Preferably, the damping member is connected to substantially all of the rear surface of the face member to substantially isolate the face member from the body member. To further ensure that any vibration is damped and to further improve the feeling of the club, the face member is completely isolated from the body member by the damping material. Preferably, the rear surface of the face member has a peripheral contour and the damping member has a peripheral contour that is substantially the same as the peripheral contour of the rear surface. These parts can be connected to each other using an adhesive, and the damping member may itself function as an adhesive. The mechanical fastener may be used alone or with an adhesive.

  The damping member preferably includes one or more of rubber, urethane, polyurethane, butadiene, polybutadiene, and silicon. The damping material may be a composite layer. Furthermore, an attenuation member of a color that contrasts with the colors of the face member and the body member may be provided. This color difference is a useful tool that golfers can use when adjusting shots (putting). The damping member is preferably about 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) to about 25.4 mm (1 inch) thick, and is preferably about 0.7 mm (0.03 inches) to about 2.03 mm (0.03 mm). More preferably, the thickness is 08 inches. The face member is preferably about 1.27 mm (0.05 inch) to about 6.35 mm (0.25 inch) thick, and has a thickness of about 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) to about 5.08 mm (0. More preferably, the thickness is 0.2 inches.

  The club head of the present invention can be assembled using a mold (mold) having two mold (mold) plates. The face member is disposed in the cavity of one plate of the mold, and the main body member is disposed in the cavity of the other plate of the mold. The body member is disposed in one of the mold cavities. Optionally, an adhesive may be placed between the club head parts. The mold plates are then pressed together with a certain force to press the damping member 20 to the desired thickness and size. The club parts may be roughened to facilitate adhesion, and optionally the mold may be heated during the molding operation.

  FIG. 1 shows a golf club of the present invention. The club head, shown in the illustrated embodiment as a putter head, has a face member 10, a gutter member 20 shown as a layer of damping material, and a body member 30. The face member 10 has a ball striking surface 12 and a rear surface 14 facing the ball striking surface 12. The damping member 20 is connected to the rear surface 14. The main body member 30 is connected to the damping member 20 on the surface facing the face member 10 and has a hosel 32 for connecting the club head 1 to the shaft.

  FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the golf club head 1. The damping member extends along most of the face member 10. This configuration helps to dampen vibrations that occur during normal use of the club, regardless of which part of the club face hits the ball. The configuration also provides the face member 10 with a softer feel (hit feel). Preferably, the damping member 20 is connected to substantially all of the rear surface 14 to substantially isolate the face member 10 from the body member 30. Certain portions of the face member 10 may contact the body member 30, as in the hosel 32, for example. This configuration may cause certain vibrations to be transmitted to the damping member 20. A certain amount of vibration may also be transmitted via a mechanical fastener that connects the face member 10, the damping member 20, and the body member 30.

  The surrounding surface of the hosel 32 can be treated in various ways. One option is to simply contact the face member 10 and the body member 30 as described above. Another option is to leave the gap between the face member 10 and the body member 30 around the hosel 32 intact. A third option is to provide a damping material between the face member 10 and the body member 30. This damping material may be the same as the damping material 20 or may be different from the damping material 20.

  The face member 10 is completely isolated from the body member 30 by the damping material 20 to further ensure that any vibrations are damped and to further improve the feel of the club. Preferably, the rear surface 14 has a peripheral contour and the damping member 20 has a peripheral contour that is substantially the same as the peripheral contour of the rear surface 14. These parts can be connected to each other using an adhesive. FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a preferred assembly configuration of the golf club head 1. An upper mold part 40 and a lower mold part 41 are provided, and the face member 10, the damping member 20, and the main body member 30 are positioned in the cavity of the mold. Adhesive is located between the club parts. The mold plates 40 and 41 are pressed against each other by force to press the damping member 20 to a desired pressure and size. The surface of the club parts may be roughened to facilitate adhesion. Since the damping member 20 is much softer than both the face member 10 and the body member 30, the damping member 20 effectively receives all the applied pressure. The damping material is preferably selected so that no additional adhesive is required. After removing the club head 1 from the mold, the excess material is trimmed.

  Preferred damping materials include one or more of rubber, urethane, polyurethane, butadiene, polybutadiene and silicon. The damping material 20 may be a composite layer. For example, different materials can be applied to the toe portion, the center portion, and the heel portion of the damping member 20. Further, the attenuation member 20 having a color that contrasts with the colors of the face member 10 and the main body member 30 may be provided. This color difference is a useful tool that golfers can use when adjusting shots (putting). Damping member 20 is preferably about 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) to about 0.254 mm (0.01 inches) thick, and is about 0.7 mm (0.03 inches) to about 2.03 mm. More preferably, the thickness is (0.08 inches), and these thicknesses are measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the club head 1.

  Aluminum is a preferred material for the face member 10. Aluminum is relatively soft and improves the feel (hit feel) of the club head 1. Steel is a preferred material for the body member 30. The face member 10 is preferably about 1.27 mm (0.05 inch) to about 6.35 mm (0.25 inch) thick, and is preferably about 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) to about 5.08 mm. More preferably, the thickness is (0.2 inch).

  Steel is relatively heavy (dense) and gives the club head 1 a solid feel. The body member 30 is designed to increase the moment of inertia about a vertical axis that extends through the center of gravity of the club head. This design can be achieved, for example, by placing weights (heavy objects) on the heel portion and the toe portion of the main body member 30.

  Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that these have been provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the invention has been described in golf putters, the disclosed ideas and concepts can be applied to other types of golf clubs, such as iron-type clubs, wood-type clubs, and hybrid-type clubs. Thus, the present invention is not limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but is defined only in accordance with the claims and their equivalents.

1 shows a golf club head of the present invention. 2 shows an exploded view of the golf club head of FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of a preferred assembly setup for the golf club head of FIG.

Claims (18)

A golf club head,
A face member having a ball striking surface and a rear surface facing the ball striking surface, the rear surface having a first outer peripheral shape;
A damping member coupled to the rear surface and having a peripheral contour that is substantially the same as the peripheral contour of the face member;
A body member coupled to the damping member;
Golf club head.   The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face member is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and the body member is made of steel.   The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the body member comprises a hosel for attaching a shaft to the club head.   The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the dampening member is connected to substantially all of the rear surface.   The golf club head according to claim 4, further comprising mechanical fastening means for connecting the face member, the damping member, and the main body member.   The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the face member is substantially isolated from the body member by the damping member.   The golf club head of claim 6, wherein the face member is completely isolated from the body member by the damping member.   The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the damping member is an adhesive body that connects the face member and the main body member.   The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the dampening member has a thickness of about 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) to about 25.4 mm (1 inch).   The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the thickness is between about 0.03 inches and about 0.08 inches.   The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the face member has a thickness of about 0.05 inches to about 0.25 inches.   The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the thickness is between about 0.1 inch and about 0.2 inch.   The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a putter head. A method of manufacturing a golf club head,
Preparing a mold having a first mold plate with a first cavity and a second mold plate with a second cavity;
Prepare a face member, damping member and body member,
Positioning the face member in one of the first cavity and the second cavity;
Positioning the body member in the other of the first and second cavities;
Positioning the damping member in the one cavity;
Pressing the mold plates toward each other with a predetermined force,
Leaving the mold plate in a pressurized state for a predetermined time,
Method.   15. The method of claim 14, comprising placing an adhesive between the club parts prior to the pressing.   The method of claim 14, comprising roughening at least one surface of the face member and the body member prior to the pressing.   15. The method of claim 14, comprising maintaining the mold at an elevated temperature in at least a portion of the step of leaving the pressurized state. Releasing the mold plate from the pressurized state;
Remove the club head from the mold,
Removing excess portions of the damping member,
The method of claim 14.

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